Oral Health Education and Message Framing Effect on Oral Health Status of Refugees in Egypt

NCT06649760 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: Refugees oral health education
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 303
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Refugees, facing forced displacement and often exposed to traumatic experiences, represent a vulnerable population with unique healthcare needs. Oral health is considered a prominent factor that contributes to quality of life. Therefore, this study aim at assessing the effect of message framing on enhancing oral health practices in a group of refugees in Alexandria, Egypt. A three-arm cluster randomized controlled clinical trial will compare a gain-framed mobile text messages group, a loss-framed mobile text messages group, and a control group. The primary outcome is the improvement in oral health practices measured by changes in dental plaque and secondary outcome is to assess change in oral health-related quality of life. In addition, oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices of refugees will be assessed.

Conditions

Oral Health Quality of Life (OHQoL) Was Assessed; Caries,Dental; Plaque, Dental; Gingivitis

Keywords

Dental caries; Plaque; Gingivitis

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Oral health-related quality of life improvement

  To assess change in OHRQL using OHIP

  Immediately after structured oral health session, 6 months and 1 year after baseline

• Oral health practices improvement

  Assess toothbrushing and flossing frequency before and after the education session and reminder mobile messages

  6 months and 1 year after baseline

• Oral hygiene status assesment

  measure the change in plaque index scores among participants

  6 months and 1 year after baseline

• Gingival health assessment

  measure the change in gingival index scores among participants

  6 months and 1 year after baseline

Study Arms (3)

Gain-framed messages

EXPERIMENTAL

The participants will receive every 2 weeks a boosting reminder mobile text message in a gain-framed way. For example, "Great breath, healthy gums only a toothbrush away" "flossing your teeth daily removes particles of food in the mouth, avoiding bacteria, which promotes great breath."

Behavioral: Gain and loss framed mobile text messages

Loss-framed message

EXPERIMENTAL

he participants will receive every 2 weeks a boosting reminder mobile text message in a loss-framed way. For example, "Brush now and avoid bad breath and gum disease", "If you don't floss your teeth daily, particles of food remain in the mouth, collecting bacteria, which causes bad breath."

Behavioral: Gain and loss framed mobile text messages

Control group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants allocated to this group will not receive mobile text messages. They will only receive the oral health education session given to all participants at the beginning.

Interventions

Gain and loss framed mobile text messages BEHAVIORAL

To assess the effect of message framing on enhancing oral health practices in a group of refugees

Gain-framed messages; Loss-framed message

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Refugees older than 18 years old.
• From Arabic speaking countries.
• Has been resident in Alexandria, Egypt for at least 6 months.
• Having mobile phones to receive text messages.
• Agrees to participate in the study.

You may not qualify if:

• Planning to move away during 1 year study period.
• Participating in any kind of oral health education and promotion programs.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Alexandria University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Caritas

Alexandria, 21523, Egypt

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Dental Caries; Dental Plaque; Gingivitis; Plaque, Amyloid

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Tooth Demineralization; Tooth Diseases; Stomatognathic Diseases; Dental Deposits; Infections; Gingival Diseases; Periodontal Diseases; Mouth Diseases; Pathological Conditions, Anatomical; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Mona El Kashlan, Professor

  Alexandria University

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: QUADRUPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant lecturer, Dr.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 12, 2024
• First Posted: October 21, 2024
• Study Start: November 15, 2024
• Primary Completion: December 12, 2025
• Study Completion: December 13, 2025
• Last Updated: July 7, 2026

Record last verified: 2024-10

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

EG (1)